Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Limit 10-20-07, 10:30 AM	So Ryan Dancey recently posted an entry over on his blog (http://web.mac.com/rsdancey/RSDanceyBlog/Blog/Entries/2007/10/20_Grab_dice%2C_roll_dice!.html) that is the beginnings of a storytelling combat idea that is meant to trim down combat so its resolved in two really big rolls of lots of dice. He mentions thinking power gamers won't like the system, but since it boils things down to crunchy combat numbers, I figure we can come up with some really, really big dice pools. ✓ Each player character contributes a d20 ✓ For each magical attribute on the primary weapon to be used by each character (any “+”, and each enchantment), add a d4 ✓ For each +5 AC bonus from armor worn by each character, add a d4 ✓ For each shield used by each character, add a d4 ✓ For each magical attribute on the armor used by each character (any “+”, and each enchantment), add a d4 ✓ Add a number of d4’s equal to the highest level arcane spell each character can cast ✓ Add a number of d6’s equal to the number of animal companions in the fight ✓ Add a number of d4’s equal to the total number of martial feats of the characters in the fight Human Fighter 20 = 1d20 + 41d4 1d20 + 10d4 (+10 Weapon) + 2d4 (Mountain Plate) + 1d4 (Shield) + 10d4 (+10 Armor) +18d4 (Feats) Ryan also asked for feedback, so if you guys want to comment on his ideas, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.
archerpwr 10-20-07, 11:52 AM	Wow. It's dipping time: Human w/ two flaws Fighter 2/ Feat rogue 2/ psychic warrior 2/ monk 2/ ranger 6/ wizard(combat varient) 4/ spellsword 2 22d4(feats) +1d6(companion) +1d20+ 10d4(weapon) +1d4(armor) +10d4(armor enhancement) +1d4(shield) +3d4 spells Total: 1d20+47d4+1d6
CrimsonDeath 10-20-07, 10:02 PM	Wow. It's dipping time: Human w/ two flaws Fighter 2/ Feat rogue 2/ psychic warrior 2/ monk 2/ ranger 6/ wizard(combat varient) 4/ spellsword 2 22d4(feats) +1d6(companion) +1d20+ 10d4(weapon) +1d4(armor) +10d4(armor enhancement) +1d4(shield) +3d4 spells Total: 1d20+47d4+1d6 If you make the guy an Elf, does that give him four more d4s for Martial Weapon Proficiency (Longsword, Rapier, Longbow, Shortbow)?
archerpwr 10-21-07, 02:31 AM	If you make the guy an Elf, does that give him four more d4s for Martial Weapon Proficiency (Longsword, Rapier, Longbow, Shortbow)? good catch! That's a net gain of 3d4 for a nice round 50d4.
The_Mad_Linguist 10-21-07, 02:54 PM	unlimited action points loop + unfettered heroism, anyone?
archerpwr 10-21-07, 03:46 PM	unlimited action points loop + unfettered heroism, anyone? Wouldn't add any dice. Just remembered a few other things: heroics (SC) 1d4 Serpinetine armor (MIC) 1d4 Wait, didn't the feat record consist primarily of weapon focuses and improved crits?
awaken_D_M_golem 10-21-07, 03:47 PM	So Ryan Dancey recently posted an entry over on his blog that is the beginnings of a storytelling combat idea that is meant to trim down combat so its resolved in two really big rolls of lots of dice. He mentions thinking power gamers won't like the system, but since it boils things down to crunchy combat numbers, I figure we can come up with some really, really big dice pools. Ryan also asked for feedback, so if you guys want to comment on his ideas, I'm sure he'd appreciate it. Anyone who's done computer programming knows how hard it is to get a long program to run right. I learned programming on a punch-card system, just before the IBM PC came out. Then I became a luddite. There is no chance, at all, of producing a bug proof program. The only exception is to have as short a program as possible. In this case, a D&D type game that never ever Ever EVER, got longer than what has been posted, and was played to it's death, by CO board types, would only perhaps be bug proof. And Bill Gates has had to acknowledge, that Windows is too big now. That's as big a big cheese as one can cheese-tastically imagine. I'm reading between his lines, in my own special way.
awaken_D_M_golem 10-22-07, 05:26 PM	OOPS. I'm sorry. I didn't include any intentional humor, in that last post. Sooo ... http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/19310000/19313019.jpg :D
Think0028 10-22-07, 07:26 PM	1) What're the rules about non-animal companions? The Nasty Gentleman could cause some havoc here. 2) There better be a definition of using a shield, otherwise Bob the shield fetish guy is going to be INVINCIBLE.
CrimsonDeath 10-23-07, 04:10 AM	2) There better be a definition of using a shield, otherwise Bob the shield fetish guy is going to be INVINCIBLE. I imagine that "using a shield" would mean "having a shield equipped in such a way that it provides an AC bonus". I'm also guessing that each character can benefit from only one shield at a time.
Think0028 10-23-07, 06:53 PM	I imagine that "using a shield" would mean "having a shield equipped in such a way that it provides an AC bonus". I'm also guessing that each character can benefit from only one shield at a time. Hopefully. I can't see too much wrong with it aside from minor things like that... ... with one exception I just thought of. TWF with a buckler. Since to-hit doesn't matter and the type of shield doesn't matter, just get two enchanted weapons and an enchanted buckler. Combine with a Swiftblade gish, and you'll be bringing quite a bit of dice to the table. Not as much as the super-dip build, but a promising start. EDIT: Dear lord, Hecatoncheires.
BillTheManiac 10-24-07, 10:45 AM	BAB doesn't matter? Wow.
Soluphobe 10-29-07, 12:59 PM	What happens when you polymorph your animal companion into a swarm, then disperse the swarm? 10,000d6? And what is the definition of 'martial feat'?
Soluphobe 10-29-07, 05:11 PM	I just read the article, and the obvious struck me (apart from the fact that the guy doesn't like us evil power-gaming munchkins). Why not have every character go glass-cannon and bid to the max? Bob is fighting for his home. He adds 2d4 to the table, but if he loses he will be depressed and will lose 3 points of constitution from weeping. Bob fights well because he just ate a cookie. He brings 1d10 to the table, but if he loses he won't like cookies for the next 2 days. ...etc...
archerpwr 10-29-07, 06:10 PM	I just read the article, and the obvious struck me (apart from the fact that the guy doesn't like us evil power-gaming munchkins). Why not have every character go glass-cannon and bid to the max? Bob is fighting for his home. He adds 2d4 to the table, but if he loses he will be depressed and will lose 3 points of constitution from weeping. Bob fights well because he just ate a cookie. He brings 1d10 to the table, but if he loses he won't like cookies for the next 2 days. ...etc... ✓ Each player character contributes a d20 ✓ For each magical attribute on the primary weapon to be used by each character (any “+”, and each enchantment), add a d4 ✓ For each +5 AC bonus from armor worn by each character, add a d4 ✓ For each shield used by each character, add a d4 ✓ For each magical attribute on the armor used by each character (any “+”, and each enchantment), add a d4 ✓ Add a number of d4’s equal to the highest level arcane spell each character can cast ✓ Add a number of d6’s equal to the number of animal companions in the fight ✓ Add a number of d4’s equal to the total number of martial feats of the characters in the fight I don't see how being a glass cannon helps here. It doesn't hurt, but it by no means helps.
CrimsonDeath 10-29-07, 09:08 PM	I don't see how being a glass cannon helps here. It doesn't hurt, but it by no means helps. He's talking about "bidding" to add extra dice (described after it's explained how the enemies build their dice pool). And what stops the characters from doing that is that the enemy can refuse bids.
archerpwr 10-29-07, 09:41 PM	He's talking about "bidding" to add extra dice (described after it's explained how the enemies build their dice pool). And what stops the characters from doing that is that the enemy can refuse bids. I see now. That's a good idea.
BillTheManiac 10-29-07, 09:48 PM	Just some quick advice to Ryan Dancy, on the off chance he reads this thread: If you make a system where everything is based on 1 number, every character of the same level should have the same number. Otherwise there will be 1 most powerful build for each level.
The_Mad_Linguist 10-29-07, 11:01 PM	Note that hp is completely and utterly useless. In fact, having a low hp is benefical, since you lose a fraction of your total hp in a combat, and it's much more cost-effective to heal only a little bit of hp.
Callix 10-29-07, 11:23 PM	Note that hp is completely and utterly useless. In fact, having a low hp is benefical, since you lose a fraction of your total hp in a combat, and it's much more cost-effective to heal only a little bit of hp. In fact, no-one needs Constitution whatsoever, since there's no need for Concentration checks or Rage durations. In fact, only casting stats are of any sort of importance, and then only for max spell levels in half-casters. And Mystic Theurges rock. Especially Wizard/Druid.
The_Mad_Linguist 10-30-07, 01:16 AM	So, since stats are unimportant in combat, (but probably will come up out of combat), and since any game described as being "storytelling" involves a lot of NPC interactions, con is a dump stat so you can put extra points in charisma. It's like a crazy go nuts bizarro world!
CrimsonDeath 10-30-07, 01:34 AM	Hmm... If he's distilling combat to a single die roll, would it be safe to assume that he's dispensing with traps entirely? (After all, everyone has something to do in combat, but in most groups only one character ever looks for traps.) Also note that it doesn't matter what specific spells the spellcasters are able to cast. Never learn or prepare a direct damage or battlefield control spell again. Use nothing but utility spells! Seriously, this is some strange optimization space...